The Supreme Islamic Council new president Sheikh Essa Foday Darboe says his principal goal during his tenure is to unify Gambian Muslims.

Imam Darboe, who replaces Muhammed Lamin Touray was elected today at the Council’s congress in Kanifing. 

“We will do our level best to establish unity as the principal [sic] of the Supreme Islamic Council,” Sheikh Essa Foday Darboe told delegates.

He said despite contesting against three other candidates that they were united in one common purpose.  

“The candidates are one body just because we have different intentions that’s why we have three candidates based on the nominations of the people who think those people can run the council, but that doesn’t mean that we are in different views,” Imam Darboe said.

He continued: “Thank God we are one. We have one visions that is to work for the sake of Allah [God] and to unify Muslims in this country.”

Breakaway group Imams – Rawdatul earlier urged the nation’s Muslims to boycott the congress describing its “illegitimate”. 

They said they don’t recognize the council’s congress arguing that the outgoing executive led by Imam Muhammed Lamin Touray “overstayed” their tenure.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba